Browns' comeback effort pleases Crennel

BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns are developing three intangibles -- chemistry, maturity and confidence -- and it shows in one important tangible area: the standings.

BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns are developing three intangibles -- chemistry, maturity and confidence -- and it shows in one important tangible area: the standings.

The Browns won two in a row for the first time in four years with Sunday's 27-20 victory over the St. Louis Rams. Coming off a bye week, Cleveland fell behind 14-0 midway through the first quarter and finished by outscoring the Rams 27-6.

Cleveland has fallen victim to the snowball effect many times, especially on the road, where two-touchdown deficits can easily roll into 30-point defeats. But the Browns are showing that this is a different team, one with more talent and maturity than in recent years.

Now the Browns (4-3) find themselves one of the surprise teams in the NFL and tied for second in the AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens (4-3). The Browns, one game behind the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) and ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals (2-5), have equaled their win total from last season.

"You really don't know what will happen until they get out on a field and until they grow and mature, but this team is still growing and maturing," coach Romeo Crennel said. "They surprise you every Sunday with what happens. … I never would have thought we would have been down 14-0 to start the game, but they came back and fought and were able to win it."

Receivers are blocking downfield, turning 5-yard gains into 10 and 15. The pass protection has been tremendous, allowing time for quarterback Derek Anderson to connect with catalysts Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr.

Even the defense, which entered Sunday as the worst-ranked unit in the NFL, escaped criticism. It allowed the Rams 393 yards but responded in the final two minutes by making two stops.

"Everything that we do now is for the game and the team," said Edwards, who had eight catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns. "If I tie my career high, whoop-de-do, we got the win. We're 4-3 and we're above water for the first time in a long time."

Crennel said his first challenge was convincing his players they can win. Now his challenge is convincing them not to get overconfident.

"I'll have to let them know that we haven't arrived, even though they think they're pretty good," Crennel said. "That's part of the business and part of the game."

Crennel did something rare yesterday, giving his players Monday off. Rookies, however, had to report to the training complex.

First-year players such as left tackle Joe Thomas, quarterback Brady Quinn and cornerback Eric Wright were forced to show, even though Thomas and Wright are starters.

"They didn't appreciate that too much, but that's part of being a rookie," Crennel said. "The veterans, they get a chance to rest a little bit more and then they'll be back here on Wednesday and we'll get ready to go for Seattle."

jwalker@dispatch.com

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